Actroid-F – the world’s first true Android (and we don’t mean phone)

The Actroid-F android from Japan has just been introduced to the world, and what an introduction. The only thing I could think while watching the video (below) was “wow, just imagine what will happen when Apple gets into robotics”. Designed to be used in hospitals, the eerily lifelike robot can mimic a host of human expressions and movements, and at times is uncannily humanoid.

…designed to be used in hospitals and other locations involving natural human-to-human communication, and can move its eyes, open and close its mouth, tilt its head, nod, smile, replicate breathing, and bow; and is 1.4 meters tall when seated…a teleoperating station equipped with a camera was showcased, enable the android to replicate the head and facial movements of the operator, as well as following manually-inputted commands.

It is meant for use in hospitals, combine that with Apple and their fondness for censorship, and good luck trying to sensibly describe body parts, symptoms or procedures. You may be looking forward to an Apple robot, I for one am not.

likethespider

Oh wow… that's just creepy! The pharmacist's industry is up in arms in the UK right now about "remote supervision" – ie having a pharmacist supervising multiple pharmacies via video – how are the doctors and nurses going to feel about remote doctoring!! ;-)